Apparatus for placing of control pins, or breaking off of control butts of control elements in jacquard selectors for textile machinery

ABSTRACT

A holder is adapted to hold either control jacks, or a control wheel into which pins are to be inserted. Located in alignment with the holder is a tool head assembly having a plurality of tool heads which can be, selectively, placed in interfering, or non-interfering position with respect to the carrier for the control jack or wheel. Upon feed movement of the carrier, butts on the jacks will be broken off at those points where tool heads are located in interfering positions; or, pins fed from a magazine are pushed into a pattern wheel or cylinder, where the tool heads, upon relative movement, are in interfering position. The selection of placement of the tool heads are automatically controlled, for example, from an electronic input device, optical reader, or the like.

United States Patent [1 1 Kuhn et al.

[111 amui [451 .lluly2d,1973

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 72,497 4/1970 EastGermany ..29/208.R 1,961,086 l/1971 Germany ..29/2()8.R

Primary Examiner-Thomas H. Eager [75] Inventors: Falk Kuhn, Kiebingen; Josef Fink, Atwmey Fl nn & Frishauf Rangendingen; Gunter Maier, y Rottenburg; Pius Kohler, Wurmlingen, all of Germany [73] Assignee: Fouquet-Werk Franz & Planck, ABSTRACT Rottenburg, Germany [22] Filed: Man 22, 1972 A holder is adapted to hold either control jacks, or a control wheel into which pins are to be inserted. Lo- [21] Appl. No.: 236,897 cated in alignment with the holder is a tool head assembly having a plurality of tool heads which can be, selec- 30 F P D t tively, placed in interfering, or non-interfering position 1 Drug App canon y a a with respect to the carrier for the control jack or wheel. Mar. 25, 1971 Germany P 21 14 385.1 Upon feed movement of the carrier, butts on the jacks will be broken off at those points where tool heads are [2%] :LS. (g1. "5532942908 C13 2 3/ 7 l located in interfering positions; or, pins fed from a mag- 1 p q 0 azine are pushed into a pattern wheel or cylinder, Fle d of Search C, R, er e tool he up relative em a in 29/211 208 R interfering position. The selection of placement of the tool heads is automatically controlled, for exam- [56] References cued ple, from an electronic input device, optical reader, or

UNITED STATES PATENTS the like" 2,613,861 10/1952 Goerlitz 29/ 211 R 2,896,313 7/1959 Brewer et al 29/203 R 3,226,811 1/1966 Roland 29/208 c 12 7 Drawmg Figures 3,047,217 7/1962 Sheppard et a] ..234/48 PATENTEDJULZMSH SHEU 1 [IF 6 PATENIEUJUL24I973 SHEET 2 [IF 6 PATENIE M24915 SHEU 0f 6 m mm APPARATUS FOR PLACING OF CONTROL PINS, OR BREAKING OFF OF CONTROL BUTTS OF CONTROL ELEMENTS IN JACQUARD SELECTORS FOR TEXTILE MACHINERY The present invention relates to an apparatus to mechanically, and, preferalby automatically, effect the pattern selection arrangement on needle control jacks, or needle controling pattern wheels or cylinders, by breaking off control butts on the jacks, or inserting pins into the needle wheels or cylinders. Such apparatus is particularly useful in connection with prepartion of the control elements for use in Jacqard-type knitting machines, specifically circular knitting machines.

When removing specific butts from selector jacks, to be assembled on a knitting machine, one may either break the butts, singly, by means of pliers; an apparatus has already become known in which a plurality of butts can be, selectively, simultaneously broken off. A carrier or holder plate is placed between the jaws of a vise, the carrier acting as a guide for a breaking, or removal tool. This carrier has a number of removal tools which correspond to the number of butts to be broken out of the jack. The carrier has a shaft, on which the removal tools are rotatively located, adjacent each other, the removal tools being movable transverse to the longitudinal direction of the jacks held in the carrier. The butts themselves are broken out in such a manner that each breaking tool selectively is engaged, or not engaged, with the butts of the jacks.

Each one of the tools, on a transport roller or feed carrier, must be separately operated by hand. The selection of specific removal tools also has to be done by hand. This requires reading of the symbols of the pattern arrangement, while operating the pattern controller, work which needs high concentration and skill on the part of the operator. It is partically impossible to eliminate all errors. The selected pattern butts, one or more, are continuously removed by means of a lever which is movable about a pivot pin; thus, even though the butts from one specific jack are removed in essentially one operation, they are not really simultaneously broken off.

It has previously been proposed to provide an electrical control to break off the pattern butts, in which electrical circuits are closed by means of a key board, similar to a control by an electrical typewriter, or the like. It has been found, however, that the force required to break off the butts is in excess of that which can readily be provided by an electromagnet controlled by an electric typewriter or a keyboard or the like, particularly since the impact forces to break the butts severely jar the magnets and solenoid coils connected therewith.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic apparatus to program the selector jacks or selector wheels or cylinders for Jacqard-pattern-type textile machinery, and more particularly for knitting machines and circular knitting machines, which is automatic, which can read a design pattern directly, and which is reliable in operation.

SUBJECT MATTER OF THE INVENTION Briefly, magnets are used to select specific tool heads of a tool head assembly which is placed, preferably in an aligned row, so that the tool heads will be located either in an interfering or non-interfering position with respect to the pattern butts on jacks. Pattern butts and jacks are placed on a carrier and relative movement, or example, by moving the carrier, is effected between the jack and the tool heads. This movement can be with substantial power, for example, by means of hydraulic, pneumatic, or other control,and upon such movement the jack is pressed against the tool head assembly. Those tool heads which are in interfering position will break off the respective butts. Those butts which, however, are aligned with too] heads which have been lifted by the magnets passed there beneath, are unaffected. Thus, the magnets themselves need lift only the tool heads with little force, the operating force itself being obtained from an outside source. Rather than utilizing magnets, hydraulic or pneumatic lifters controlled by magnetic valves can be used.

The apparatus can likewise be used to insert control pins into control wheels or drums. The drum or wheel is placed on the carrier, as before, and rather than moving the carrier beneath the tool heads, pins are placed between the tool heads and the drum or wheel and upon relative movements, the tool heads will push the pins into aligned openings in the drums or wheels.

The invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic transverse sectional view of a single tool head in the base position to program a needle jack;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 1 in a first portion of the working cycle;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 1 in a further portion of the working cycle;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1, illustrating the use of the apparatus with a selector drum and selector pins;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating stacking of selector jacks and placement of the jacks in stacked arrangements;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary partial view of a feed arrangement of selector jacks; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of the control of the apparatus.

A tool head assembly is provided which consists of an elongated housing 11 in which a plurality of tool heads 1 are stacked adjacent each other. At least as many tool heads are provided as butts are placed on the pattern jacks with which the machine is to work. The pattern jacks 3 are located in a carrier 23 which is formed in a slot, in which the jacks fit. The butts 4 of the jacks 3 project from the slot. The individual tool heads 1 of the tool assembly have a projecting tooth 5 which engages the upper portion of the machine support 11. The other side of the tool head 1 is formed with a projecting tooth which is utilized to lock the individual heads 7 in working or quiescent position. The bottom portion of the tool head 1 is formed with a projecting square tooth 7.

Each one of the tool heads 1 is supported by a carrier 8, pivotally secured to the tool head I, which can be lifted by a lifter rod 9 from operating element 10. Operating element 10 may be a hydraulic lifter, an pneumatic device, an electromagnet, or the like. A spring 12 holds the tool heads 1 in dropped position, that is, working or interfering position. Other springs, such as spiral springs around lifter rod 9, or other apparatus may be provided to hold the tool heads 1 in a predetermined position. In interfering position, the lower surfaces of projecting teeth 5, 6 bear against the top surface of machine support 11.

FIG. 2 illustrates the first working cycle. An excenter 19 is rotated by a shaft 20, the excenter bearing against a cam follower roller 18. Cam follower roller moves a link arm 17 pivotally connected at a pin 22, back and forth. Tool heads 1 which are to remain in interfering position are shown in full line in FIG. 2; tool heads 1 which have been raised by operation of the transducer element 10, such as an electromagnet, are shown in broken lines in FIG. 2. Upon rotation of cam 19 to the position in FIG. 2, link 17 will assume the full line position of FIG. 2 and thus lock the respective tool heads 1 in their respective position. It is to be assumed that an assembly of such tool heads is provided, stacked in the plane of the drawings, the tool heads, for example, being separated from each other by thin separating strips or lamallae. For eas of location of the transducer heads 10, they may be placed staggered or offset with respect to each other. The shaft 20 is driven from a motor, not shown, by means of an intermittent clutch, not shown. A spring 21 holds the link 17 normally in retracted position, that is, in the position of FIG. 1, to be moved in the position of FIG. 2 upon rotation of cam 19.

Upon insertion of jacks 3, with the butts 4 projecting from the jacks, and placement of the tool heads 1 in interfering (full line) or non-interfering (broken line) position, as shown in FIG. 2, the actual working cycle can commence. As seen in FIG. 3, carrier 23 is mounted on a slider 24 which is moved from the dotted position (FIG. 3) to the full line position shown in FIG. 3. Those tool heads 1 which were in interfering position, by means of the cutting tooth 7, will cut off the butt 4 from the jack 3. The tool heads 1 which were lifted to noninterfering position, shown in broken lines, will permit the butts 4, shown dashed, to remain thereon. The force of movement, that is, the force of the feed of the carriage 24, shown schematically by the arrow 4, is sufficiently strong to effect breaking of the butts from the jack 3. The actual lifting force, that is, the force which needs to be controlled in accordance with the pattern arrangement is only that of lifting the tool head 1, however. As seen in FIG. 3, the position of the individual tool heads remains locked, the cam 19 engaging cam follower 18 during the working stroke, so that any shifting of individual tool heads during the cutting operation is prevented.

The present invention lends itself not only for the patterned removal of control butts on selector jacks, but can also be used to physically insert control pins into pattern control drums or pattern control wheels. Referring to FIG. 4, a pattern control drum 33 has openings formed therein which align with a magazine holder 31, holding a stack of control pins 32 therein. An auxiliary insertion plunger 28 is provided, held in the base 29 and tensioned by a spring 30 into retracted position, that is, towards the right in FIG. 4. The drum 33 is held by suitable means, such as a cradle, on the slider 24, on which, likewise, magazine holder 31 and plunger support 29 are mounted. Upon movement those plungers 28, however, which are aligned with a lifted tool head 1, that is, a tool head which is in a noninterfering position, will merely pass to the right, without insertion ofa pin 32. Support 29 carries a plurality of plungers aligned each with a respective tool head 1, preferably, again, separated by lamellae or the like. Other spring arrangements than those shown can be used. The drum 33 carries a plurality of holes, in axial alignment, extending radially as shown, for insertion of the pins 32. Indexing of drum 33 can be synchronized with operation of the apparatus.

The present apparatus permits not only automatic cutting of a plurality of selector butts in selector jacks, or insertion of selector pins into selector drums or wheels, but additionally permits stacking of selector butts, cut in accordance with a predetermined pattern and, if desired, automatic introduction of the stacked jacks into selector drums formed with predetermined slots for placement therein. Referring to FIG. 5, a supply table 37 forms a supply or storage magazine in which a number of new selector jacks are placed, having all butts located therein. This supply or storage table 37 is located, with respect to the working cycle, in advance of carrier 23. A feed apparatus, schematically shown at 36 as a feed dog, and operating in the direction of arrow B, feeds a single new selector jack 3 to the carrier 23 until the jack engages a stop member 40. During such feed movement, the position of tool heads 1 can be set or determined, and the tool heads locked in interfering or non-interfering position so that upon locating a jack 3 against stop 40, the next cycle of breaking off selected butts can commence, by moving the part 23 on carriage 4 towards the upper right (FIG. 5) in line with arrow A. Movement of carriage 24, in accordance with FIG. 5, is controlled by a hydraulic controller, having fluid applied thereto as shown schematically at 25. Other feed movement controllers can be used, such as a Scotch yoke, an excenter, pneumatic controllers, or the like. Upon retraction of the carriage 24 towards the bottom left, FIG. 5, a magnet 39 frees stop member 40 by retracting the stop member from the path of the now-programmed jack 3, so that the transport can continue to move the jack 3 into a receiving table or magazine 38. The jacks, programmed in accordance with a programmed sequence, then will be stacked on magazine 38, in their programmed order. Rather than using a magazine 38, a jack holder drum can be placed in a similar position, so that the jacks ejected from the holder 23 can be placed directly within the insertion slots formed in the jack holding drums, for automatic placement of the jacks in drum-type Jacqard selectors.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the transport mechanism comprises a pair of projections 35, 36, extending from a transport rod 34, movable in the direction of the arrow B. Upon ejection of a finished jack from holder 23, a new jack can automatically be inserted in the holder. To prevent interference ofthe projections, during the return stroke, with the butts of subsequent jacks, the entire table 37 can be raised or lowered, as shown schematically, by means of a lifting apparatus 41, controlled cyclically in synchronism with the operation of the transport rod 34. In accordance with a modified embodiment (FIG. 6), the rod 34 can be formed with a recessed end in which a'ratchet-like link element 36 is pivotally located, to tilt about a shaft 43, and to be received in a slit 42 formed in the rod 34. A spring 44 bears over an adjustable end 47, held in position by nut 46, and a ball 45 against ratchet link 36. In the position shown in FIG. 6, just prior to a movement toward the right (FIG. 5), a new jack is carried along. Upon the return stroke, towards the left in FIG. 5, link 36 can pivot about shaft 43 so that the inclined camming surface 49 can ride above projecting butts 3, the line 36 being then received in slot 42. The feed table 37 can then be located to be fixed with respect to the remainder of the apparatus and need not have the lifting mechanism shown at 41 in FIG. 5.

The operation and the interrelation of the various parts will become clear from the consideration of FIG. 7. An input unit 100 is provided which may be a keyboard or the like, an numerical input reader or another input device providing output signals over a cable 100'. In a preferred form, the input unit includes an optical pattern scanning sensor 48 which is capable of scanning the pattern 51 placed thereunder. Pattern 51 has zones of different color, or reflectivity thereon, in accordance with a Jacqard pattern to be reproduced on the textile machine. The pattern scanning sensor scans an entire line, or an entire column, sequentially, and provides output pulses over cable 100' to a unit 49 which includes an amplifier, a mode selector and a controller. The amplifier amplifies the signals from the scanning sensing element 48; the mode selector selects the mode, that is, whether pins are to be inserted into a drum (FIG. 4) or butts removed from a jack (FIGS. l-3); signals applied from the pattern 51 which may be derived from special columns at the margin, can be used to control the cyclical operation of the locking cam 19, that is, stopping and starting of shaft 20, and the cyclical operation of the carriage 24 and, if desired, the transport or feed rod 34 (FIG. 5). These operating functions are controlled by a controller portion within unit 49. These control functions are readily determined either from a signal derived from the pattern scanning sensor, that is, upon initiating scan of a line (or column) and its termination and the like. Such start-stop signals and other conrol signals can be derived in wellknown manner, from auxiliary pulse sources, from auxiliary index marks on pattern 51, or from timing circuits, as well-known.

The output of the amplifier and mode selector containing information regarding the pattern on pattern carrier 51 as provided, is applied over a line 49' to a butt or pin pattern decoder 50. Decorder 50 provides a sequence of output pulses in parallel, to a butt or pin selector head controller 53, by cable 50'. The butt or pin selector head controller 53 controls the individual transducers 10, to lift or not to lift the tool heads 1. The signals derived from the pattern sensor 48 (in the embodiment shown, reflected signals) are applied serially; decoder 50 can provide parallel output signals in a serial-parallel converter, as well known in the art, which may include a shift register or the like, read out upon occurrence of a read-out pulse which can be additionally applied from the controller section of unit 49 over a line shown. In addition to the control of the butt or pin pattern decoder 50, the unit 49 provides an output over line 49" from its control section to a drum or jack position controller 52, which is the unit effecting control of the movement of the carriage in accordance with arrows A (FIGS. I-4) and feed of the transport of the jacks by feed rod 34 (FIG. 5). Additionally, indexing of a patterning drum 33 (FIG. 4), if used, can be controlled by element 52 in accordance with techniques well known. Pulses can be counted, each pulse operating a stepping switch, and indexing the drum by one step of radial rotation to bring another row of holes in line with the pins 32, after one line of holes has been supplied pins in selected positions, in accordance with the position oftool heads 1. The output of jack and drum position controller is thus mechanical to control the feed locking operation, and additionally, by means of an interlock line 52', controls a butt or pinselector head controller so that at the end of the cycle all the selector head controllers are released for resetting for the next jack, the butts of which are to be removed, or for the next indexed position of drum 33 (FIG. 4).

Results of the selection of the butt or pin selector head controllers are schematically indicated by arrows 53' (for jacks) and 53" (for pins), that is, whether completed jacks 55 are to be made or whether a drum and pins 56 is to be the result.

The butt or pin selector head controller 53 thus includes the entire array of electrical transducers, or controls 10, for each of the tool heads 1, so that, when energized they can be lifted in advance of rotation of cam 19, from the position of FIG. 1 to that shown in position of FIG. 2 (to bring the tool heads from interfering to non-interfering position) and then, upon locking of the respective tool heads 1 in their respective position upon rotation of the cam 19 to the position in FIG. 2, to effect movement of carriage 24 for either breaking out of butts 4 (FIG. 3), or insertion of pins (FIG. 4). Upon retraction of the carriage, the cycle is completed and a new row (or column) of pattern 51 can be sensed, resulting in a new setting of the. transducer heads 7 for the next jack, or axial line of pins of drum 33. If the arrangement of FIG. 5 is used, completed jacks can be stacked in order on the receiving table 38 or, directly, in serted in a Jacqard pattern drum which is indexed to the next slotted position upon the next cycle being initiated. A Jacqard drum position controller can, likewise, be connected with its output 52 to control the stop magnet 39 (FIG. 5) and thus enable proper feed of the jacks, as well as control of the lifting mechanism 41 (if used).

The apparatus of the present invention thus permits arrangement of Jacqard pattern carries, or controllers for use with carriers such as pattern jacks in which the patterning arrangement itself is programmed from an input device, which can be a sensor or reader directly reading a pattern raster. Control is entirely automatic,

and the careful and complicated intervention of manual setting of pattern arrangements in accordance with a drawn pattern, can be eliminated since a sensing device 48 can directly control the pattern to be mechanically made. Errors which arise in manual selection and placement of pins, or removal of wrong butts, and which are practically unavoidable in such manual selection, are substantially eliminated. An optical pattern scanning sensor, which may operate either with reflected light or based on transparency or color selection in which a raster is scanned, can be utilized to directly control the setting of individual tool heads for the Jacqard selector. The Jacqard selector, once set for a specific selection pattern in accordance with a commanded pattern as sensed on a row of a raster, is locked in place so that, during the actual operating stroke no strain is placed on the selection apparatus as such. The force necessary to effect programming of the selector jacks (by breaking of butts) is not derived from the element controlling the position of the tool heads but limlnary placement of subsequent .lacqard patterning elements, such as jacks, can be made or previously cut jacks can be loaded or inserted in jack holders. Exact placement and location is determined by interlocked stops, to effect cyclical operation of the entire apparatus.

The control system of FIG. 7 can readily be combined with a numbering system which applies to each pattern jack, after it has been worked on during the working stroke, a predetermined sequence or serial number. Such a numbering system can be connected to line 49" (FIG. 7) or to line 52', or be interlocked with the shaft 20 controlling cam 19 (FIG. 1), or with the transport rod 34 (FIG. 5) so that at the end of each operation of programming a predetermined selector jack, a controlled pattern or serial number is stamped or painted on the jack which has just been made or which, in accordance with FIG. 5, is being transported ot the storage table 38.

Various changes may be made within the inventive concept.

We claim:

1. For use in textile machinery, apparatus for locating control elements such as control butts or control pins, in accordance with a pattern, on a control unit of Jacqard pattern selectors comprising a carrier (23, 24) having means holding said control unit thereon;

a tool head assembly having a plurality of tool heads (1, 7) thereon, aligned with the control element on the control unit held on the carrier, said carrier and said tool heads being movable relative to each other;

positioning means (10) connected to said tool heads individually, selectively setting the tool heads (1, 7) in interfering position or non-interfering position with the control units, upon such relative movement;

an input command source (100);

a means (49, 50) including logic means interconnecting said input command means (100) and the setting means (10) for the tool heads (I, 7) and setting the tool heads as commanded by said input command means in interfering or non-interfering position to selectively engage the control elements of the control unit upon relevant movement of the carrier and the tool head assembly.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means (17, 18, 19) individually locking the tool heads (1, 7) in the position set by the positioning means.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising cyclically operable means (17, l8, 19, 20) individually locking the tool heads (1, 7) in the position set by the positioning means and holding the said position during said relative movement.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is elongated;

and the tool head assembly comprises an elongated array of individual tool heads, aligned essentially parallel to the control unit.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit is a control jack having a plurality of dots thereon; and

means controlling the relative movement having sufficient energy to effect breaking out the butts on the jacks, said butts being selectively broken off by the tool head set in interfering position upon such 5 relative movement.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, comprising a storage table (37) holding a stack of new control jacks;

a receiving table (38) to receive jacks which have selected butts broken off;

and cyclicly operable transport means (34, 35, 36;

FIG. 6) feeding a single jack from the storage table to a position in parallel alignment with said tool head assembly and in timed control with respect to said tool heads, feeding the jack with broken-away butts after movement between said tool head and said jack, to said receiving table.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising electrically, cyclically controlled means (40) forming a stop for the jack upon feeding a new jack from the storage chamber and placing said jack in said carrier;

the means controlling relative movement moving the carrier against the tool heads which are selectively set in interfering position; and

electrically controlled means releasing the jack after said movement.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the storage table is movable to permit engagement of said transport means with a jack to be fed.

9. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the transport means comprises a ratchet lever having an engagement surface and camming surface and movable in the engagement position with the engagement surface engaging a jack to be moved in one direction and swingable out of engagement position by the camming surface when moved in the opposite direction.

said tool heads being located in fixed position on said support, said carrier being movable with respect to said tool head;

and power means moving said carrier. 12. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tool heads of the tool head assembly are aligned in a stacked array, each tool head being movable in a direction transverse to the line of alignment;

the positioning means comprises link and lifting means connected to said tool heads, the transducer means acting on the link and lifting means to selectively lift tool heads which are to be placed in non-interfering position as commanded by said command means;

6 means controlling movement of said carrier to effect said relative movement and operable in a direction 9 10 transverse to said line of alignment, and with suffithereof upon movement of the carrier; cient force to permit breaking of butts of selector and means controlled by said interconnecting means jacks; cyclicly controlling the operation of said posimeans locking the tool heads in interfering or nontioning means, said locking means and said interfering position in dependence on the setting 5 moving means.

F I a v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 Dated y 1973 Inventor(s) Falk KUHN et al It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the heading: The Assignee should read FQUQUET WERK FRAuza PLANCK In the claims:

Claim .5, line 2, "dots" should be --butts Signed and sealed this 1st day of January 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER ,JR. RENE' D. TEGTMEYER Attesting Officer v I Acting Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-1050 (10-69) r USCQMM-DC scam-P69 .5. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I959 O-3G6-3!4, 

1. For use in textile machinery, apparatus for locating control elements such as control butts or control pins, in accordance with a pattern, on a control unit of JacqarD pattern selectors comprising a carrier (23, 24) having means holding said control unit thereon; a tool head assembly having a plurality of tool heads (1, 7) thereon, aligned with the control element on the control unit held on the carrier, said carrier and said tool heads being movable relative to each other; positioning means (10) connected to said tool heads individually, selectively setting the tool heads (1, 7) in interfering position or non-interfering position with the control units, upon such relative movement; an input command source (100); a means (49, 50) including logic means interconnecting said input command means (100) and the setting means (10) for the tool heads (1, 7) and setting the tool heads as commanded by said input command means in interfering or non-interfering position to selectively engage the control elements of the control unit upon relevant movement of the carrier and the tool head assembly.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means (17, 18, 19) individually locking the tool heads (1, 7) in the position set by the setting means.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising cyclically operable means (17, 18, 19, 20) individually locking the tool heads (1, 7) in the position set by the setting means and holding the said position during said relative movement.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is elongated; and the tool head assembly comprises an elongated array of individual tool heads, aligned essentially parallel to the control unit.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit is a control jack having a plurality of dots thereon; and means controlling the relative movement having sufficient energy to effect breaking out the butts on the jacks, said butts being selectively broken off by the tool head set in interfering position upon such relative movement.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, comprising a storage table (37) holding a stack of new control jacks; a receiving table (38) to receive jacks which have selected butts broken off; and cyclicly operable transport means (34, 35, 36; FIG. 6) feeding a single jack from the storage table to a position in parallel alignment with said tool head assembly and in timed control with respect to said tool heads, feeding the jack with broken-away butts after movement between said tool head and said jack, to said receiving table.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising electrically, cyclically controlled means (40) forming a stop for the jack upon feeding a new jack from the storage chamber and placing said jack in said carrier; the means controlling relative movement moving the carrier against the tool heads which are selectively set in interfering position; and electrically controlled means releasing the jack after said movement.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the storage table is movable to permit engagement of said transport means with a jack to be fed.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the transport means comprises a ratchet lever having an engagement surface and camming surface and movable in the engagement position with the engagement surface engaging a jack to be moved in one direction and swingable out of engagement position by the camming surface when moved in the opposite direction.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit is a receptacle having openings formed therein for insertion of control pins; a magazine (31) is provided holding a plurality of pins (32) in stacked relation, and located in alignment with openings in the receptacle; and means aligned with the pins of the magazine and engageable by the individual tool heads (1, 7) when in interfering position, engaging a pin from the magazine and introducing the pin into the aligned opening of the receptacle.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising an apparatus support; said tool heads being located in fixed posiTion on said support, said carrier being movable with respect to said tool head; and power means moving said carrier.
 12. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said setting means individually setting the tool heads comprises electrically controlable transducer means connected to said interconnections converting electrical signals into movement of the respective tool heads between interfering and non-interfering position.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tool heads of the tool head assembly are aligned in a stacked array, each tool head being movable in a direction transverse to the line of alignment; the setting means comprises link and lifting means connected to said tool heads and electrically controllable means acting on the link and lifting means to selectively lift tool heads which are to be placed in non-interfering position as commanded by said command means; means controlling movement of said carrier to effect said relative movement and operable in a direction transverse to said line of alignment, and with sufficient force to permit breaking of butts of selector jacks; means locking the tool heads in interfering or non-interfering position in dependence on the setting thereof upon movement of the carrier; and means controlled by said interconnecting means cyclicly controlling the operation of said setting means, said locking means and said moving means. 